When we talk about our health and fitness goals, we often say things like, ‘I want to lose x amount of weight, build muscle, lift heavy, look more toned…
While these goals are valid and important, it’s easy to become too focused on PB’s weight-loss targets, comparisons with others, restrictive dieting, and overtraining.
One major issue with goals that depend heavily on metrics is that when people begin to feel fatigued, disheartened, or frustrated by slow progress, especially concerning weight, body composition, or muscle growth, they often experience injuries, burnout, boredom, or a lack of time for training. This can lead to a plateau in progress, causing many to stop training or revert to old habits.
Which, by the way, is completely natural and happens to most people at some point.
What I’ve learned from my personal experiences over the years is that what truly motivates people to stay committed to their health and fitness isn’t just the few extra pounds they’ve lost or the muscle they’ve gained. Instead, it’s about developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for what our bodies and minds are capable of when we take better care of ourselves.
For me, feeling strong, feeling fit, and having the energy and enthusiasm to enjoy playing football, cycling, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, climbing, and ziplining through the French mountains with my two incredible teenage daughters are my biggest motivations to keep going, especially when things get tough.
Maintaining my muscle, bone, and cardiovascular health year-round is essential to enjoying these experiences for as long as I can. I’ve also noticed that I generally feel less pain and have more energy during the day, which, when you’re in your mid-forties having spent a decade prior managing various mystery pains, mobility issues and random injuries, is a huge win, trust me.
Your motivation might come from your love of skiing every year, playing a sport you love, exploring the coral reefs, travelling to different places, getting married, starting a family, enjoying playful moments with your children in the park or waking up pain-free and rested each day.
Focusing on what you love to do, what you aspire to do, and how you want to feel is far more powerful and rewarding for both your body and mind.
Once you shift your focus towards how you feel and what you can do, you will start to notice positive changes in your body and mind.
The more you move your body, make conscious decisions about what you eat and drink, and prioritise your rest and recovery, the better you will start to feel across all aspects of your life.
